04/20/24
October 21, 2003
Letters from the Nation: ESPN SportsGuy and Boston native, Bill Simmons, opens up his reader mailbag to share their stories and feelings about The Loss.
posted by jerseygirl to baseball at 10:43 AM - 43 comments
I can't stand it when my girlfriend says "it's just a game" when I get upset over a loss, but really now: "I haven't had a solid bowel movement in six days. This is my life."
posted by dusted at 12:03 PM on October 21, 2003
God, I'm sympathetic and all, but isn't this one post too many?
posted by worldcup2002 at 12:20 PM on October 21, 2003
God, I'm sympathetic and all, but isn't this one post too many? Well gosh golly gee, I am sorry.
posted by jerseygirl at 12:28 PM on October 21, 2003
Perhaps if you posted a picture first.
posted by worldcup2002 at 12:39 PM on October 21, 2003
Sooky sooky now.
posted by worldcup2002 at 12:42 PM on October 21, 2003
Any of the thoughts... Any of the ideas... Any of the inclinations... I have had about posting a picture have been fully extinguished today.
posted by jerseygirl at 12:47 PM on October 21, 2003
Okay, I understand how sad the Sox and Cubs fans are, but these people's quotes read like they just lost a war, or people died, or there was a terrorist attack or, god forbid, something else really fundamentally horrible happened. I understand that people are die-hard fans and love their teams and are hurt...but this is taking it a little far. It's time for some PERSPECTIVE about sports. It really is just sports. It's supposed to be a GAME. It seems to me that people who feel this devestated by a loss that they had nothing to do with and no control over and is unimportant in big scheme of things, have never had something really bad happen to them. These are the types of feelings people should have when a spouse or child dies or you find out you have a terminal disease or something. I realize I am setting myself up to be slammed here, but before you do, really take the time to think about it...is this really worth all the pain and misery? Is it really the worst thing in the world? It seems like overkill.... Yes, be sad. Be disappointed. But don't act like this is the worst thing in the world. And if it is to you, you should consider yourself very lucky. (Please, be kind. Explain to me why people feel this way...)
posted by aacheson at 12:55 PM on October 21, 2003
Its tribal. It's a substitution for war. One must cheer one's tribal hero (read: pro sport franchise). One vicariously experiences the tribe's triumphs and defeats through the hero.
posted by garfield at 01:03 PM on October 21, 2003
SoxFilter. (I enjoyed the letters, though)
posted by Succa at 01:08 PM on October 21, 2003
Jeez, harsh. I thought this was a nice denouement to the L'Affair Sox. Thanks jgirl.
posted by lilnemo at 01:23 PM on October 21, 2003
...denouement to the L'Affair Sox.
posted by lilnemo at 01:24 PM on October 21, 2003
I'm just saying. There's been one or more Red Sox posts per day for the past week or more. Intended to be more of a MeFi in-joke than a jab at jerseygirl, but I also think there's only so many laments over Grady Little we need to read.
posted by Succa at 01:46 PM on October 21, 2003
I thought it was a perfect end to the whole sox saga. A bookend if you will. Baseball playoffs and the red sox almost making the world series but being denied at the last moment. That's a huge story...been going on for years and years. No danger in this becoming sox filter.
posted by justgary at 01:54 PM on October 21, 2003
God, I'm sympathetic and all, but isn't this one post too many? 1. I'm not a Sox fan; I happen to enjoy the Sox posts. 2. If you don't enjoy the Sox posts, just don't read them. 3. Discussing the loss with symathetic Sox fans obviously provides some solace. What's wrong with that? These are the types of feelings people should have when a spouse or child dies or you find out you have a terminal disease or something. Recent research has discovered that fan's hormone levels rise and fall with the performance of the home team. "Defeated rivals suffer falls in testosterone levels, to encourage meek acceptance of their inferior status". Why question how much Sox fans are hurting? Obviously a lot of people are having the same experience ... maybe fans are having hormonal reactions that are equivelant to the hormonal reaction that occurs when a loved one dies? When 10,000 people say "I feel like someone died" I tend to believe they really feel like someone died not that 10,000 people have a screwed up perspective about sports. But whatever, I guess a cliche laden lecture on "perspective" and "it's just a game" was inevitable.
posted by Mike McD at 02:02 PM on October 21, 2003
I'm sorry - I know some of you feel the pain of losing very personally. But having perspective is a choice - and it seems many refuse to make it. As a Leafs fan, I too am used to disappointment - my team has played more playoff games in the last decade than anyone else - yet never makes it to the Cup. Been agonizingly close year in and year out (except for the 80s) 3rd round, semi-finals, etc. And hockey - well hockey is something different than baseball. Becuase hockey is wear my country takes its pride - where we have played games nation vs. nation and added to the definition of our national character. It not my city vs. your city. It is not simply shared among fans. It is global in its history. Yet no one seems to give a crap. And ya know what? They shouldn't. I don't see why Sox fans are so special, I don't see why there is a need to treat them with kid gloves, and I don't think that special treatment is deserved. I don't mean to sound like an asshole, here (though I seem to anyway). Just fed up. That's all.
posted by WeedyMcSmokey at 02:04 PM on October 21, 2003
But whatever, I guess a cliche laden lecture on "perspective" and "it's just a game" was inevitable. Lighten up, dude.
posted by dusted at 02:07 PM on October 21, 2003
get over with it already. game 3 is tonight. nobody cares about the sox anymore. i'm not a cubs fan either but they have more to cry about than the sox this year being up 3-1.
posted by catfish at 02:18 PM on October 21, 2003
Just wait. Sox lose one big series and it's the end of the world. Someone points out maybe we don't need that many posts about it, everyone gets huffy. Now, watch the same huffy people get huffy again when someone (me? the Fooker?) posts "too many" soccer posts upfront. Then, it's perfectly justifiable. Waaaah Waaaah. Hmm. Fair's fair, is all I'm saying. And, in this case, there's just not a lot of variety when it comes to posts about sackcloth, gnashing of teeth and fucking little Grady (whoever that kid is -- just joking). C'mon, I joined in the fun with the haiku post, but I think this stuff is getting a little old. Excuse me if pointing out the obvious is a little too tough to take. Lighten up is exactly what needs to happen. Oh, mourn your loss, do Just, please get it over with There's always next year
posted by worldcup2002 at 02:25 PM on October 21, 2003
Becuase hockey is wear my country takes its pride Mm-hmm. But isn't lacrosse the national sport? How the hell did that happen?
posted by yerfatma at 02:37 PM on October 21, 2003
I just figured it was live and let live around here. The previous posts in the same vein were gathering a lot of conversation, I figured there was interest from those who were just that: the interested. I am quite aware that this topic isn't for the entire mass of SpoFites. Absolutely. There are a lot of subjects and sports matters dealt with on SpoFi that I don't associate with or don't care to read, so I do just that: Don't associate or read the posts. It may sound simple, but that's all there is too it. Here's an example. I don't understand soccer. It seems like a blast to those who get it though, because when I peek at the soccer threads, you're always having a good time in there chatting it up about god knows what. And if there were some Manchester U post every day for a week, I'd dismiss it because A I don't care what you guys talk about if it doesn't involve an interest of mine and B Who am I to tell people when to shut the fuck up and stop posting FPPs? If there's a following, it appeals to people and everyone is being civil, let it be. It's none of my business. I guess what I am saying is, even if I was tired of seeing a topic (whether I was interested in it or not) pop up as an FPP for a bit, I'd never ever consider heading over and shitting all over the thread for those who may be enjoying the topic/link. I suppose we all just have different approaches to how we handle ourselves. I am truly sorry I overstepped a line. I didn't mean to cause strife. rcade, justgary, whomever, feel free to delete this thread if doing so brings peace back to the community. Later.
posted by jerseygirl at 02:53 PM on October 21, 2003
spofi: don't like it? don't post, and don't bitch.
posted by garfield at 02:54 PM on October 21, 2003
or spofi: live and let live.
posted by garfield at 02:55 PM on October 21, 2003
....and since liberties are being taken, wc2k2, step off about the pic already.
posted by garfield at 02:59 PM on October 21, 2003
I'll admit, when threads start showing up about a subject every day (the Kobe threads, for example) I do get a wee bit annoyed at it, but I skip 'em rather than letting that be known because I realize that some other people seem to enjoy them. It takes all of a 1/4 mouse wheel turn to skip this thread and alot more effort to crap on it. In summation, let them have their dental plan. < / mr burns>
posted by therev at 03:21 PM on October 21, 2003
Dusted - that was my point - I'm real light about the subject - it's all these Sox fans (and those in the article that prompted the thread) that are mourning the death of innocence or some crap. And I post because its on topic and fun to discuss. It's the people who post about the viability/appropriateness of other posts that make me sick ;)
posted by WeedyMcSmokey at 03:37 PM on October 21, 2003
Dusted - I'm an idiot - and making it all the easier to ignore me. Someone delete my last two posts, please?
posted by WeedyMcSmokey at 03:39 PM on October 21, 2003
Jgirl - I think the post is totally worthwhile - and as I remember the general guidline is posts should generate conversations. This one sure did. No apology needed or accepted.
posted by WeedyMcSmokey at 03:42 PM on October 21, 2003
....and since liberties are being taken, wc2k2, step off about the pic already. Amen to that.
posted by Ufez Jones at 03:48 PM on October 21, 2003
Whooooo, guess we don't need any more lightening up in here. But I will step off, as requested. Sorry about that.
posted by worldcup2002 at 03:56 PM on October 21, 2003
Okay, I'm just about to start reading the e-mails, but my first thought is: 2200 freaking e-mails! I would hate to see that in my inbox, but it would also be flattering, I guess.
posted by msacheson at 07:00 PM on October 21, 2003
I don't think that there are too many posts about it at all, and I agree that if you're annoyed by them, don't read them. I thought this posting was interesting and a good one, but I just don't understand the warped sense of doom and sadness and people's seemingly overblown sense of loss and hopelessness. And MikeMcD, I sincerely didn't mean to give a lecture-especially a (gasp!) cliche laden one. I just don't get it and think people who take sports so seriously as to lapse into depression need to realize that there are really bad things that happen in this world. Your team losing a chance to go to the world series doesn't seem to be one of them. But that's just me.
posted by aacheson at 07:58 PM on October 21, 2003
jerseygirl, if you're out there, I'm sad to see the tone this thread has taken and the derail. From this Yankee fan to you, my sympathy empathy condolences (damn, no word seems right from a Yankee fan to a Sox fan right now..so I'll go with:) sincere appreciation for your contributions to SpoFi. Peace.
posted by msacheson at 09:19 PM on October 21, 2003
Hang in there, jg. And... yeah, it doesn't make a lick of sense. I could talk about how Boston always feels a little inferior to New York. I could talk about the painful losses. I could talk about the frustrations. I could talk about what New York symbolizes to us. I could talk about what it feels like to see so many great players go through here, and to see all the other teams in Boston succeed, and yet... But the truth is, it doesn't make sense. It just is. It's our inexplicable foolish cross.
posted by Bryant at 11:28 PM on October 21, 2003
Let's all make a pact to never Metafilter a thread up like this again, okay? Group hug! *surreptitiously squeezes jerseygirl's butt*
posted by Samsonov14 at 11:29 PM on October 21, 2003
Dear jerseygirl, Don't go. Sincerely, Spofi
posted by garfield at 08:21 AM on October 22, 2003
I apologize to jerseygirl and all Boston Red Sox fans, and all SpoFi baseball fans. I am truly sorry.
posted by worldcup2002 at 12:45 PM on October 22, 2003
Me too!
posted by aacheson at 01:30 PM on October 22, 2003
I thought it was a great post jerseygirl... These guys are so mean. Talk to me, babe.
posted by StarFucker at 02:49 PM on October 22, 2003
Hey, wc2002 -- your soccer knowledge and insight is one reason why I read SpoFi religiously. Just wanted to note that.
posted by Bryant at 03:57 PM on October 22, 2003
Let's all make a pact to never Metafilter a thread up like this again, okay? Exactly. Group hug! *surreptitiously squeezes jerseygirl's butt* Uhhh, I think that was my butt.
posted by mbd1 at 04:16 PM on October 22, 2003
Those aren't pillows!
posted by wfrazerjr at 05:28 PM on October 22, 2003
the only thing wrong with this thread (IMHO) was that it was a Page 2 link which isn't very adventurous. still, it was topical and seasonal and no worse (IMHO) than a Liverpool FC thread. I enjoyed reading it. Thanks for the link and I'd say that the discussion was worthwhile even if it wasn't harmonious. There are better threads and worse threads. C'mon get happy.
posted by gspm at 05:45 PM on October 22, 2003
Even after watching the Cubs collapse and the Red Sox game seven loss, it's hard to believe they happened. Yankee fans are insufferable.